The Sir Jules was a 711 ton ship employed mainly in the transportation of copra from Chagos and Agalega to Mauritius. A sketch of it is reproduced below:
A “popular Creole folk song” or sega about the ‘Sir Jules’, one of many early lyrics preserved by Mr Jacques Cantin, and reproduced in a mixture of French and Kreol is transcribed below:
Mo meme ti cafre sept peaux
guête comment mi costaud
Pas même ène coute couteau
capave traverse mo la peau
Rouler, rouler, rouler mon p’tit Sir Jules
Courant li trop fort
ramène moi dans port
Ena ène joli bateau
comment dire ene ti chateau
Temps en temps li allé dans île
nous appelle li p’tit Sir Jules
Rouler, rouler, rouler mon p’tit Sir Jules
Courant li trop fort
ramène moi dans port
Captaine ecque ingénieur
pénan pli grand Bonheur
qui chante ène ti séga
pou blié zotte tracas
Rouler, rouler, rouler mon p’tit Sir Jules
Courant li trop fort
ramène moi dans port
Captaine ecque zofficieers
avec tout l’équipage
nous faire tout ça tapaze
pou dire zotte banané
Rouler, rouler, rouler mon p’tit Sir Jules
Courant li trop fort
ramène moi dans port
Lère nous pé amisé
bisoin nous maziné
Sir Jules apé allé
dans ène mois li ava tourné
Rouler, rouler, rouler mon p’tit Sir Jules
Courant li trop fort
ramène moi dans port.
This text has been rendered into a rough and ready English version, minus the repetitions, as follows:
I am a (thick skinned) solid little Afro-Creole
see how strong I am
Not even a knife
can go through my skin
Turn, turn, turn my little ‘Sir Jules’
The water current is too strong
take me back to port (harbour)
There is a beautiful ship
which is like a castle
Very often it comes to the island
we call it little ‘Sir Jules’
The Captain and the Engineer
know no greater happiness
than to sing a little Sega song
to forget their troubles
The Captain and the Officers
together with all the crew
we’re making so much noise
to wish them Happy New Year
While we are having fun
we need to keep in mind
the ‘Sir Jules’ is departing
in one month’s time it will return
Turn, turn, turn my little ‘Sir Jules’
The water current is too strong
take me back to port.
© LDC Cuniah, 2011.